Fabio Maldonado (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Fabio Maldonado has been assigned the task of defeating Fedor Emelianenko next month, and recently the UFC vet outlined some of the strategy he plans to utilize, against the legendary heavyweight.

Maldonado will face Emelianenko on June 17th, in the main event of a Fight Nights Global card in St. Petersburg. Recently the Brazilian fighter spoke to MMA Fighting.com about the upcoming bout, and while doing so, Maldonado had this to say about Emelianenko:

“Fedor is good everywhere,” Maldonado said. “The fight starts standing and I can’t enter the ring thinking about not getting taken down and eat two punches and lose like against Miocic. I have to pay attention. I have to be patient in this fight. The biggest difficulty in this fight is Fedor’s speed and explosion. The idea is to catch him when he’s coming. But I won’t wait for Fedor to come, I will attack him as well.”

The Russian star returned to the ring on New Year’s Eve and stopped Jaideep Sing while fighting for Rizing FF. The bout marked the first time Fedor had fought since 2012.

Maldonado, meanwhile, has competed in two boxing bouts, and recorded two KO wins, since he was decisioned by Corey Anderson at UFC FN 77 last November.